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Imagine walking into a grocery store, filling your cart with all the necessities and some treats, and then walking out without spending a dime. This is not a dream but a reality for a select group of San Francisco residents, thanks to the newly opened District 10 Community Market.
Located in the heart of a 'food desert,' the District 10 Community Market in San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood is a revolutionary initiative designed to tackle food insecurity. This first-of-its-kind store in the city allows qualifying shoppers to take home groceries at no cost.
The brainchild of Geoffrea Morris, a former aide to District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safaí, the market’s mission extends beyond just providing food. "If you’re having food insecurity, there’s a high likelihood that you’re having other social problems, and we want to make sure that you’re receiving all social benefits,” Morris explained. “We want to support the whole household.”
To be eligible, shoppers must live in the 94124, 94107, or 94134 ZIP codes, receive benefits from low-income public assistance programs like CalFresh, Medi-Cal, or CalWORKs, have a child under 25 in the home or have a diet-related illness, and be referred by one of 14 local community organizations. Those who qualify receive a card granting access to the market, similar to a membership at Costco.
Once inside, shoppers can fill their carts with a variety of groceries. At the checkout, items are weighed and bagged, allowing the market to keep track of inventory and ensure a steady supply of goods as more people become eligible.
The District 10 Community Market is situated in one of San Francisco’s poorest areas, where several neighborhoods are classified as "food deserts" by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton emphasized the market’s significance, calling it a “treasure.” “Now our families have choice while they shop with dignity, unlike the case at your traditional food pantries,” Walton said. “Instead of being given a bag or a box with items a family may not need or want, they now have an opportunity to shop as they would at a grocery store and choose the quality produce, meat, and food they desire.”
Dignity and respect are central themes at the market. “We’re not going to put anything on our shelves that we wouldn’t eat ourselves,” Morris said. “We’re going to treat you with the utmost respect. It’s all about dignity.”
The market's shelves are stocked with a wide array of items you’d expect at any grocery store: bread, milk, eggs, rice, poultry, tortilla chips, fruit juice, dry pasta, and fresh produce, among others. The inventory is sourced from donations by nearby stores like Lucky Bayview, Grocery Outlet, and the San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market, and some items are ordered directly from a ranch in Watsonville. Household supplies and toiletries are available only if donated by other stores, and high-demand items like tortilla chips are limited to one per order.
The market aims to open for a few hours twice a week initially, with plans to increase to four or five days per week by August. Currently, shoppers can visit the market once a month, though there are considerations to allow twice-monthly visits.
Shannon Scott, a neighborhood resident of 30 years, shared her appreciation for the market. She contrasted it with food banks that often distribute “rotten” food. “This place gives us nice food. Nice and fresh. It’s nice to have fresh food, and it’s nice to be treated like this. It’s not like we’re begging for anything.”
By June next year, the market expects to serve 1,500 households or 4,500 people monthly. With an identified 40,000 people in the area who could benefit from the market’s services, Morris is confident they will meet their goals. “We know we’re going to meet our benchmarks,” she said.
The District 10 Community Market stands as a beacon of hope and dignity, offering a sustainable solution to food insecurity while fostering a sense of community and respect among its patrons.
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